With its unique beauty and history, the emeralds extracted from the Muzo mine have become a precious stone brand the MUZO brand. Their reputation as the most beautiful emeralds in the world, a product of national pride for Colombia, is undeniable. This metamorphosis began in 2009 when the new Muzo Group entered the Colombian market to provide mining services to the Muzo mines. In 2014 the company garnered full ownership of the mine, a move that has changed the face of emerald mining in Colombia and the world. MUZO emeralds, with their unique characteristics, offer mine-to-market traceability. The Muzo Companies presently manage all the stages of its product from mining to cutting to distributing, respecting nature and labor. To reaffirm the historical supremacy of its stones, The Muzo Companies have founded their philosophy on the alliance of authenticity and intense creativity. A way of reminding that its majestic beauty was at the source of inspiration that makes for the history of jewellery s most beautiful pieces; a muse at the summit of its fascinating destiny.
THE MUZO EMERALD, A MAGNETIC AURA MUZO emeralds are exceptional gems distinguished by their near perfect hexagonal geometry when in raw form, their dimensions and their color: a powerful and intense green, brightened by an innate yellow gleam. MUZO emeralds are among the four precious stones including: the Mogok ruby, the Kashmir sapphires and the now exhausted Golconda diamonds. Unlike the Muzo mine, other mines no longer produce their precious stones.
About 65 million years ago, a gemological miracle led to the birth of the emerald: the meeting of beryllium originating from magma and of chrome originating from the sea. The mythical emerald is therefore a product of the alchemy of the founding elements of our universe, water and fire. The MUZO emerald is the stamp of a fascinating story. When the Conquistadors landed in the New World, in their quest for El Dorado in North and South America at the end of the 15 th century, they searched incessantly for emerald mines. Emeralds were the precious green stones indians used in adornments, offerings and religious ceremonies. For years, Conquistadors fought indigenous people of the region and led numerous expeditions throughout the region in search of the precious gems. One day, a Spanish horseman, according to legend, discovered a piece of the green stone stuck in his horse s hoof, while riding around the Muzo region. The Spaniards then began exploring and mining for emeralds in the region. Armed with extraordinary beauty, the Muzo emeralds have always aroused covetousness and passion. The Mogul emperors, who considered emeralds to be the stones of Mohammed, desired them intensely. They set the stones into dagger handles, heavy breastplates, and used them as turban ornaments. As for Western jewelers, they have placed emeralds at the heart of every style trend of the 20 th and 21 st centuries.
A REVOLUTION IN EMERALD MINING The Muzo mines, which are located 100 kilometers north-west of Bogota, are comprised of five underground galleries. Tequendama, Catedral and Volvere are 100 meters deep. The oldest, Puerto Arturo is 150 meters deep. The pilot mine, the Rampa, is equipped with the most modern mining technology to facilitate geological research and better emerald extraction conditions. Contrary to the other four mines, which are dug out vertically, the Rampa is 400 meters deep and large enough for motorized equipment to support the mining operation. All mines have a ventilation system and state-of-the-art technology to insure the visual, digital and physicochemical traceability of the emerald. Nature MUZO emeralds are not exposed to aggressive and toxic substances such as dynamite and cyanide, as the mine forbids the use of those practices. This practice preserves the quality of the emerald, which remains untouched by artificial treatment: Muzo emeralds are exclusively lubricated with natural cedar oil, when needed. The Muzo Companies protects the mine s environment through erosion control, reforestation, and hydro seeding programs.
The driving forces Respect for the men and women in the Muzo region is at the heart of The Muzo Companies philosophy. Minors benefit from personal and professional development programs, including training and career development support in and outside of the Muzo community. Women, who were previously kept away from being active members of the region s economy, are now active participants of life at the mine.
Local communities The modernization of mining practices has led to the improvement of the life conditions for thousands of people living in the Muzo mine s surrounding areas: elders, women, children and handicapped. Now they can benefit from a communal dining hall, a medical facility and a strong support system. Local emerald mining experts are welcomed and encouraged to work for the Muzo mines. Partnerships are created with local industries, coffee and cacao, to enhance the quality of life of the community as a whole.
INTEGRATING PROFESSIONS: FROM EXTRACTION TO DISTRIBUTION Fully integrated, Muzo Companies endeavor themselves from extraction of rough, cutting in its own workshops to the distribution of its finished stones collections. The art of cutting In the Bogota workshop, Colombian emerald cutting craftsmen closely evaluate the stones, searching for the slightest defect, precisely locating the placement of color in order to determine the optimal cut. They are masters in classical cutting. The local know-how is regularly associated to French lapidaries expertise. These two-fold craftsmanship enrich one another. Punctual collaborations with New York and Hong Kong workshops add to this expertise. ROUGH STONE ASSESSMENT SAWING PRE-SHAPING STONE CALIBRATION STONE CALIBRATION FACETING POLISH QUALITY CONTROL CUT STONE
Consolidating and perpetuating such knowledge MUZO has established a training program carried out by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France, who regularly visits the cutting workshop in Bogota. The company also set up training exchange programs with the BJOP school and SENA, its Colombian equivalent. Selective distribution MUZO controls its image and distribution through partnerships meeting its requirements. It sells its collections of emeralds to the greatest jewelers and designers across the world.
MULTI- CERTIFICATION Thanks to the state-of-the-art technology at the mine, MUZO is able to provide a gemological certificate of origin and traceability (certified ISO 9000) for every emerald, for the first time in the history of emerald mining. For each Muzo emerald, the certificate provides the place and date of extraction, as well as its shape and weight. The certificate also showcases photos of the stone in its raw and final cut states. MUZO s certificates are backed and delivered by international laboratories such as Gemtech, Gubelin or SSEL or GRS. To further corroborate the emerald s legitimacy, The Muzo Companies have embarked on becoming complaint with Responsible Jewelry Council s (RJC) standards.
VIBRANT CREATIVITY MUZO emeralds have inspired jewelers from every era to create sumptuous pieces throughout the world. To pay homage to this, MUZO is launching several collections. The Stone Collection To lend inspiration to designers and jewelers, MUZO presents a collection comprised of an assortment of several thousand cut emeralds in different sizes, color shades and weight. Stone can be paired with each other to produce matching pieces such as a sublime pair of emeralds weighting 40.41 and 42.25 carats, respectively or can be used as solitary stones. A repertoire of ideas and geometric ornaments are being ideated, including floral necklaces, solitaires or breathtaking rings.
The High-End Jewelry Collection MUZO has created a new approach of emerald jewelry with its High-End Jewelry Collection. This collection features unique pieces that were created in collaboration with the most talented international jewelry designers: Antoine Sandoz, Studio Naio, Elie Top, Shaun Leane, Solange Azagury-Partridge. Many others will participate in this creative experience. COLLECTION SECRET OF MUZO COLLECTION UNTAMED EMERALDS
The Private Collection This Private Collection, unique in the world, is composed of coveted jewels and art objects chosen to showcase the history of the emerald, the events and stylistic currents it has been a part of over the centuries. The pieces of this heritage fund, which is constantly being enriched, create a link between the past, the present and the future. The Private Collection features two important pieces: Nuestra Señora de Atocha s cross and ring, which were lost in the shipwreck of the eponymous Spanish Galleon in 1715, off the coast of Florida. There s a also sumptuous orb, a golden globe topped with a cross, emblem of power: 36 specimens fitted into the golden ribbon illustrate the sophistication of expertise in the 17th century. After a twenty-year long search, the treasure, estimated at 500 million dollars, was recovered in 1985.
MORE THAN A PASSION, EMERALD IS OUR CULTURE Muzo Emerald brand will be launched during the next Baselworld in March 2016. It will present its collections in MUZO s showrooms in Geneva and Paris and at every major international high-end jewelry and fashion event. CONTACT@MUZOEMERALD.COM WWW.MUZOEMERALD.COM Eric Sauvage, Piers Calvert.